Pune: Winner of Masters Award for the 26th JK AYA 2017, a prestigious award in the field of architecture, and recipient of the WIDE Angle Vaastu Ratna Award 2018, architect and designer Shirish Beri shared his thoughts about his designs, sustainability and the wonder of nature at the WIDE Angle Plaza Festival 2018.
For Beri, designing is more than just a job, it is something that he genuinely loves and views it in harmony with nature instead of a simple commercial form. “My father had put aside some money for my post-graduation, but I did not go abroad and with that money, I built my first cottage where I lived alone and learnt a lot from nature, the climate and the local people,” he said, as he recounted his journey about understanding architecture and its relevance to nature.
His designs also reflect his philosophy about the goodness of architecture and if it can be an instrument of transformative change by establishing a rapport with nature.
He said, “One site had these two big boulders and I wanted them to be a part of my architectural language instead of destroying them and the rocks became a part of our design.”
Another of his designs of a farmhouse also incorporated a huge banyan tree. “Even today, my client calls me up to tell me that he feels more in tune with nature and has found a sense of peace,” said Beri.
A big advocate of sustainability, Beri is renowned for his reuse of various materials. “We have reused steel rods and rocks gathered from the site itself and that helped us save economically and ecologically. In one particular design, not a single new tile was used,” he revealed.
“I try to use as much of renewable, natural and local materials in my works as opposed to the finite resources. Even my colour palettes are more attuned to the surroundings, as I want them as natural as possible,” he added.
Another feather in his cap